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A new win for the fashion industry

There once was a time when normal and plus-sized models were totally out of the Fashion Week equation – both locally and overseas. But tides are turning, and as consumers demand diversity and healthier, more positive body imagery, the message is making its way to the top.

France’s most powerful luxury groups, LVMH and Kering have formed a promise to take a stand against size zero female models walking the runway. Between them they are responsible for brands like Gucci, Stella McCartney, YSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton and many more, so this means there will be no one under a New Zealand size 6 on the catwalks for the world’s most iconic – and expensive – fashion houses.

Not only are the powerhouse companies finally taking a stand against models being too skinny, but they’ll also be ensuring all men or women they work with will be over 16 years old when modelling adult clothes.

“A lot of people know… people affected by the scourge of anorexia,” chairman and CEO of Kering, François-Henri Pinault told WWD. “This represents an important advance in tackling the issue of excessive thinness and in particular anorexia in our profession.”

“We have the responsibility of building new standards for fashion and we hope to be followed by other players in our sector,” said LVMH director, Antoine Arnault.